RE: RPG - conversion vs re-write

["Hans Boldt" <hboldt@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bob Cozzi <BobCozzi@ibm.net> wrote:
>First, I would NEVER put a pointer in a database file, hence I'd never have
>the problem you mentioned. If I did, I'd set the pointer to X'00' and use
>that as my convention.

Well, as I think I pointed out, that was a hypothetical situation.
My point was simply that you have to distinguish between values and
attributes, and null is already considered a value for at least one
data type.

>Finally, I suppose it would help if you'd at least come up with a plan to
>back-peddle some of this new feature so that everyone can take advantage of
>it. For example, compiler directives and longer names. This stuff is not
>going to be widely useful for at least 3 more years because of the release
>compatibility issues. I mean, gosh, why can't I use compiler directives on
>my V3R7 machine?  If I want the object code to run pre-V3R7 systems, I
>cannot use compiler directives. So what good are they?  They're no good.
>And in fact, they are contra productive. They've taking resource from you
>guys--kept you from doing that one or two other functions now. And they
>give me an ulcer because I really want to use it, but I can't. So close and
>yet so far.....................

I remember a debate in this forum only a few months ago on this very
subject.  We have a hard enough time already propogating APAR fixes to
all of our supported versions!

Hans Boldt, ILE RPG Development, IBM Toronto Lab, hboldt@vnet.ibm.com

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